Pedro to stay until Tbilisi

His transfer fee has been more or less agreed. United kicked off negotiations with a 25m euros bid in the knowledge that Barcelona will sell for about 30m euros to 32m euros including add-ons. Despite Luis Enrique's initial opposition to losing Pedro, negotiations will not be too complex when it comes to numbers.

Therefore, with the transfer fee all but agreed, all that's missing is a timeline. Manchester United, who kick off their League campaign on 8th August, are in a hurry to push through the transfer. Van Gaal hopes to confirm Di Maria's transfer in the next few hours, so they will need attacking options for the start of the Premier League and the upcoming Champions League qualifiers scheduled for late August. Meanwhile, Barça aim to retain Pedro's services until after the European Super Cup, which will see FC Barcelona face off against Sevilla on 11th August in Tbilisi (Georgia).

Luis Enrique and his coaching staff have accepted that the Spaniard wants to leave, but in exchange have asked him to stay on in order to have him at their disposal for the club's first final of the season. Amongst other things, the coaches are wary of Messi and Neymar's fitness, given that the two players will go into the Super Cup with just a week of training under their belts.